DAVIE Shipbuilding Launches Canadian Ferry Replacement Initiative

Recent changes to the Federal government’s New Building Canada Fund, announced by Canada’s Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, will enable significant investments in infrastructure systems, including ferry replacement and refits. Ferry operators across Canada will have access the Fund that may inject billions of dollars in transportation infrastructure projects, providing the proposed projects be completed within a three year timeframe.

Under the program the federal government also plans on funding projects delivered as “Public-Private Partnership” (P3).Canadian Ferry Operator Association (CFOA) members, Davie Shipbuilding and other shipyards throughout Canada are in an excellent position to jointly benefit from these federal initiatives, thereby creating and retaining employment and investments in our communities.

Many Canadian ferries, whether federally, provincially or privately owned, are beyond the age of economic repair and their replacement is a growing imperative.

Davie Shipbuilding, with a demonstrated capacity, is well positioned to offer a “Fast Track” program designed to build the vessels based on existing conceptual designs at reduced upfront costs for ferry operators and owners. This approach would allow the participants to take full advantage of the federal funding which is being made available within the required three year time frame.

Partnering with Davie is a win-win situation for all parties. Davie is Canada’s largest and highest capacity shipbuilder. With a large facility, modernized infrastructure and a workforce which today exceeds 1300 skilled shipbuilders, Davie is well placed to deliver Canada’s next ferry fleet.

Gerry Neven, Davie’s VP Commercial stated: “Davie ishighly experienced with the P3 contractual model – our current program for the Royal Canadian Navy has created a new alternative ownership model for the federal government using Canadian institutional financing, which can be easily applied to Canada’s ferry fleet. By bringing private investment into financing structures together with the federal, provincial and municipal governments, we can create significant benefits and flexibility for the taxpayer.”

This initiative is good for the ferry owners and operators, it’s good for Canada’s shipbuilders and it’s good for the different levels of government.